Shelf molding and sign



y 21, 1959 1. J. FERDINAND ET AL 2,895,241

SHELF MOLDING AND SIGN Filed Jan. 15, 1957 INVENTORS: IRWIN J. FERDINAND M I LTON E. HAN D LER United States Patent SHELF MOLDING AND SIGN Irwin J. Ferdinand, Glencoe, and Milton E. Handler,

Evanston, Ill assignors to S. A. Hirsh Manufacturing C0., Skokie, Ill., a corporation of Illinois This invention relates to a shelf and a molding for the shelf, and more particularly to a shelf molding which may be secured to the peripheral edges of a shelf in either of two positions selectively without the necessity for special adjustments or extremely accurate tolerances in manufacture.

In stores wherein the shelves are used for storage and display and on which it is desired to provide labels or tags aligned with the commodities for identifying the brand, price and so on, it is customary to provide the shelves with moldings releasably supporting the price tags. However, a problem has arisen with respect to such moldings in that there is no two way assembly provided and the shelves have had to be constructed in a manner which requires an extremely accurate relationship with respect to the dimensions of the molding to be secured thereto. Also, the wood which is used, for the most part, in such shelving may split and splinter during removal and reattachment of the support members for the molding if a second position is desired and the security with which the molding is fastened to the shelf once it is re moved is either relatively low initially or is reduced during repeated adjustments over a period of time.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide means for overcoming these disadvantages in .known shelf and molding structures.

,ing. wherein the shelf defines a plurality of grooves along its outer marginal edges adapted to cooperate with complementary lands or flanges upon the molding to be secured thereto, in a manner which affords easy insertion of the said lands or flanges within the grooves without the need for accurate relative dimensioning of these parts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shelf molding as described which may be adjusted from a position relatively parallel with respect to the edge of the shelf or its outer wall to a position which is canted or inclined at a predetermined angle relative thereto and outwardly thereof, where this may prove to be desirable for more effective display, for example, in such instances as are encountered where shelves are disposed at a low height relative to theviewer so that he must look down upon them and would otherwise find difliculty in deciphering the indicia on the tag.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for securing a shelf molding as described upon a shelf suitably provided with complementary grooves wherein the angle at which the fastening means or flanges are disposed relative to the plane of the shelf is inclined a predetermined amount from the horizontal sufiicient to alford a strong resistance to accidental removal of the molding, particularly in response to forces outwardly of the shelf.

Another object of the invention is to provide a molding as described in which the fastening means may be dis- 2,895,241 Fatented July 21, 1959 posed at a slight angle relative to one another, for additional security in holding the molding to the shelf regardless of the direction of forces which tend to remove the molding therefrom.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds in accordance with the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a broken perspective view showing a shelf equipped with a molding strip incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken vertically through the shelf and molding strip shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken vertically through the shelf and molding strip and disclosing the molding as mounted in a second available position for display purposes in accordance with the invention.

In the drawings, a shelf structure is indicated by a numeral 10 and is preferably made from Wood, but, as will be appreciated, may be formed of any other suitable material adapted to have formed therein a plurality of grooves such as the grooves 12, 14 and 16 extending along the upper and lower marginal edges 18 and 20 of the shelf.

It is one of the advantages of the present invention that the shelf may be formed from material which is relatively unyielding or hard since the invention contemplates that a molding 22 may be secured to the shelf along its forward wall 23 independently of the particular resiliency characteristics of the shelf. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the shelf and molding is usable over extended periods of time without danger that wear on the shelf will lessen its effectiveness or the strength of the factening provided therefor.

Because of the relatively greater distance rearwardly at which the groove 14 is formed, in comparison with the groove 12 at the top of the shelf, room is afforded for the groove 16 which is preferably in registration with the groove 12, these two -grooves being preferably in spaced parallel relationship to the front edge or wall of 'the shelf.

' border to accomplish the fastening of the molding 22 to the shelf, a relatively flat, depending central portion 24 and its depending leg 25 are provided with integrally formed extensions 26 and 28, respectively, which are spaced apart in predetermined parallel relationship substantially the same as the width of the shelf 10 to which they are to be secured. As shown more particularly in Figs. '1 and 2, these extensions provide an attractive appearance for the shelf as well as affording protection along the shelf edges against splintering, which might occur when cans or other objects are accidentally knocked against the shelf. Depending from the upper extension 26 is a flange 30 which is adapted to be received within the upper groove 12 and a flange 32 is formed preferably at the rear marginal edge of the extension 28 in predetermined angular realtionship to the plane of the shelf 10 and preferably inclined slightly forwardly toward the flat portion 24 of the molding 22, complementary to the slot, so that it may be securely received in the said slot 14 as shown in Fig. 2 and as hereinafter further set forth.

In order to support a tag 34 bearing price indicia or the like, the depending leg 25 is provided with a flange or ridge 38 at its lower end adapted to cooperate with the ridge 40 at the upper end of the molding to define grooves 42 and 44. Thus the tag will be readily visible in most positions of the shelf 10 when the central portion 24 of the molding abuttingly engages the wall 23 of the shelf in the manner seen in Fig. 2.

The purpose of the groove 16 in shelf 10 is to permit a second position for the molding 22 which is preferably inclined or canted upwardly slightly about an axis dethe flat 24 is substantially in abutting engagement with the front wall23 of the shelf, the hook-like action provided by the flange 32, as engaged within the groove 14 and against a toe-like projection 46 defined thereby, in-

sures that accidental removal of the molding from the shelf is extremely unlikely because any force tending to move the molding outwardly from the shelf will cause the said toe 46 to move snugly into the complementary V-shaped groove 48 defined between the flange 32 and its adjacent extension 28.

On the other hand, when the molding is in the slightly elevated position as tilted forwardly about the axis referred to and defined by the groove 12 and as shown in Fig.3, the slight angular disposition of the flanges 30 and 32 relative to their vertical grooves 12 and 16 provides a frictional engagement which also tends to retain the molding very securely upon the shelf. It is preferred, therefore, that these grooves have a Width only slightly in excess of the width of the said flanges 30 and 32.

It is also desirable that the central portion 24 of the molding 22 be turned outwardly at its upper end to provide a space 52 between the shelf front 34 and the flat 24 at the upper end of the extension 28, so that there will be room between the flange 30 and the said flat portion 34 of the molding for the forwardmost portion 54 of the shelf, when the molding is in the position of Fig. 3.

A preferred form of the invention utilizes an extruded aluminum shape although a flexible material such as neoprene rubber or the like can be used. If the material is hard, the molding is secured to the shelf by sliding it longitudinally from the end of the shelf in desired position. If flexible, the molding can be snapped into place in that the lower flange 32 is preferably positioned within the groove 14 complementary thereto initially and thereupon the upper flange 30 is set into the groove 12 by lifting the upper extension 26 slightly upwardly by means of the tab 56 formed at its outer end. The freedom from interference provided by the spacing 52 between the flat portion 24 of the molding and the shelf wall 23 also aids in this movement.

otherwise along its sharp outer edge 58 and thereupon pivoting the molding into the groove 16. However, it may be found to be equally convenient simply to lift the upper flange 30 out of its groove temporarily so that it is swung free of the shelf wall 23 to permit the entire molding to be moved downwardly a distance suflicient to disengage the flange 32. Thereupon the flange 32 may be inserted into the groove 16 and the flange 30 subsequently set into its groove 12 in the manner heretofore described.

Of course, variations in detail as to the manner in which the molding strip face is formed and the manner 4 in which the tag is secured thereto may be made in accordance with the understanding of those skilled in the art. For example, either the groove 42 defined by the flange 40 or the groove 44 definedby the flange 38 may be fitted with a rubber member or strip (not shown) for the purpose of engaging the upper edge of the tag and preventing by frictional engagement with the molding and the tag undesirable or inadvertent longitudinal movement along the molding strip.

It will likewise be apparent that other details of the construction shown may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a structure of the character described a shelf having an upper and a lower surface, grooves formed on upper and lower surfaces thereof parallel and spaced from the marginal edge thereof, a shelf molding strip having a body receivable against the marginal edge and adapted to support indicia thereupon, a first extension forming a rigid right angle with the body, integral therewith and provided with a depending integral flange adapted to engage the groove on the upper surface of the shelf, and a second extension spaced from the first, forming a rigid right angle with the body, integral therewith and provided with a depending flange adapted to engage a groove in the lower surface of the shelf wherewith mounting and demounting of the moulding strip to the shelf may be accomplished only by longitudinally sliding the molding along the shelf from an end thereof with the flanges engaged in grooves.

2. In a structure of the character described, a shelf having an upper and a lower surface and further provided with a single groove on the upper surface thereof and two parallel grooves on the lower surface thereof, the grooves extending along and spaced from the marginal edge thereof in predetermined angular relationship to the plane of the shelf, a shelf molding strip having a body receivable against said marginal edge and adapted to support indicia thereupon, a rigid extension formed integrally along a first edge of the body, said extension forming a rigid substantially right angle with the body and adapted to engage the upper surface of the body, a second rigid extension formed integrally with the body spaced from the first extension forming a rigid right angle with the body and adapted to engage the lower surface of the shelf,

a rigid flange at the end of the first extension integrally formed therewith at right angles thereto adapted to engage the groove on the upper surface of the shelf and a rigid flange at the end of the second extension integrally References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,066,140 Olson July 1, 1913 1,279,225 Baynes Sept. 17, 1918 1,376,725 Ohnstrand May 3, 1921 1,776,734 Larche Sept. 23, 1930 1,970,739 Cordes Aug. 21,1934 2,608,777 Schuler -1 Sept. 2, 1952 

